Even in a subpar and injury-ravaged season, Josh Hamilton did contribute for the AL West champion Angels last year, and the Halos are going to need that kind of production out of left field in 2015. But it doesn't necessarily need to come from Hamilton, writes columnist Anthony Castrovince.
More»Angels GM Dipoto, Scioscia discuss Josh Hamilton

Once taboo, eight-man bullpens seem to be gaining traction in today's game. Obviously, it's more applicable for American League teams, for which glaring pinch-hit opportunities are presented less frequently. But last year even the Cubs went with an eight-man 'pen for much of the season.
More»Nelson, Footer discuss bullpens and their importance

Former A's Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson, now reunited in the Dodgers rotation, have always had a lot in common off the field, and this season they're both looking to prove their durability and help Los Angeles in its quest for a World Series championship.
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Though it might have been a bit overlooked, considering his team didn't reach the postseason and his rotation mate, Corey Kluber, won the American League Cy Young Award, Carlos Carrasco was one of the Majors' most dominant starters down the stretch in 2014.
More»Carrasco discusses preparation for 2015 season

While it's impossible to imagine the three-headed monster of Greg Holland, Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera becoming any more effective (regression, in fact, could be on the immediate horizon, if we know anything about relievers), there's an argument to be made that the Kansas City 'pen, as a whole, is better than ever on the verge of 2015.
More»Yost on Royals' bullpen session, Perez's impact

It's the offense that is arguably the most fascinating area of interest for the defending NL West champs, and much of its potential revolves around Puig, who was the first to hit the cage post-meeting Friday.
More» Puig possesses an incredible set of tools

This is a club that, even after dealing away two-fifths of its rotation over the winter, still has the seeds of a contender in a dizzyingly deep National League Central Division. But Cueto's pending free agency is the not-so-subtle storyline beneath the surface.
More»Cueto hopes to resolve contract before Opening Day

Desperate to reclaim is dominating form, Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum returned to his original pitching coach -- his dad -- for an exhaustive offseason to repair his mechanics and their relationship.
More»Lincecum talks about his offseason routine

The Phillies know that Cole Hamels is their biggest trade asset, and they know keeping him -- at age 31 and with at least $100 million remaining on his contract -- is viewed as an unaffordable luxury for a club taking a necessary competitive step back in 2015. But how many clubs are in a position where they can justify the monetary and young-talent investment it would take to add Hamels to their rotation?
More»MLB Now on how Shields' signing affects Hamels

Have you seen the projections? They're not kind to your defending American League East champion Orioles. The big question we encounter as we enter 2015 is how much benefit of the doubt Baltimore deserves for past precedent -- the '12 Wild Card berth, a winning (if unfulfilling) record in 2013, a lapped East field in 2014?
More»Showalter discusses the O's roster at Orioles FanFest

The truck driver has his own overlooked but important role in the Major League universe. His job is both ceremonial and substantial. He's the groundhog who, on an annual basis, doesn't see his shadow. It is a credit to him that spring always arrives on time. Ed Fisher has handled the honor for the Indians for each of the last eight seasons.
More»Indians pack up trucks and head for Spring Training

Josh Hamilton had surgery Wednesday to clean up the AC joint in his right shoulder, and the recovery will take six to eight weeks. This is but a temporary blow for the Angels, who added outfield depth this offseason. But as difficult as the first two years of the Hamilton-Halos experience have been, the guy is hardly an expendable part of their outfield.
More»MLB Tonight on Hamilton's shoulder surgery

If James Shields still being unsigned in the first week of February is an indication that his market value is dropping into Ubaldo Jimenez (four years, $50 million) and Ervin Santana (four years, $55 million) territory, the Yankees have the need and resources to pounce.
More»Castrovince on chance of Sox/Mariners ALCS matchup

How Indians ace Corey Kluber got here to this Cy Young stage, to this spot among the game's elite arms, might be a bit unorthodox, and he might be the classic late bloomer. But for Kluber, the wayward journey has only enhanced his appreciation for the end result, and time has no substitute.
More» Kluber comes off Cy Young-winning season

A team from Seattle vs. a team from Boston on the big stage. What's that, you say? The Super what? No, no, I'm talking about the 2015 American League Championship Series. Could happen. Both the Mariners and Red Sox will be attempting to rise from the abyss of an October absence to reach playoff pay dirt in 2015.
More» Wilson, Seahawks teammates enjoy the game

In addition to Ben Cherington's upbeat talk of "untapped potential" in the Red Sox rotation, we've seen plenty of pooh-poohing of the "Boston needs an ace" topic by members of the Clay Buchholz-Rick Porcello-Justin Masterson-Wade Miley-Joe Kelly fivesome this winter. Maybe these guys are on to something.
More»Miley on joining Red Sox, Cherington mum on rotation

By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince On the day Robinson Cano got $240 million from the Mariners and Curtis Granderson got $60 million from the Mets and Scott Feldman got $30 million from the Astros, Chris Antonetti met with reporters in the Terrace Club at Progressive Field to discussâ¦ uhâ¦ the chicken marsala lunch special? […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince NOTE: This post has been updated with news of the Indians coming to an agreement with David Murphy. A small sliver of insight into the Tribeâs offseason spending strategy rests in the simple fact that when Tim Hudson fielded final offers earlier this week, the Indians had made what […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince When it was over, and the sea of red had begun to disperse, revealing the undertow of green plastic seats, a few hundred fans remained near the home dugout, standing, applauding. This American League Wild Card game against the Tampa Bay Rays did not go to plan Wednesday night. […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince The last club Terry Francona managed went 7-20 in September to complete one of the great collapses in baseball history and end his otherwise successful tenure in Boston. This Tribe club managed by Francona went 21-6 in September to complete a stunning surge that, while undoubtedly schedule-aided, rejuvenated local […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince Totally did not see this coming. I was optimistic, but not this optimistic. I was a believer, but not this big a believer. I knew the Indians would be better this year, and not just because things couldnât have gotten much worse than the 2012 freefall. I knew an […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince Within a whisker of a postseason berth, the Indians are coming to the conclusion that they have no closer. Chris Perez is not a closer right now. With a 7.85 ERA, .350 average against and 1.116 OPS against in 18 1/3 innings over his last 19 appearances, heâs a […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince A Boston beat reporter got in touch with me the other day, because he has an AL Manager of the Year vote and he wanted to make sure he did his due diligence all the candidates, rather than just circling John Farrellâs name and being done with it. Heâs […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince Well, this figures, right? Ubaldo Jimenez arrives here as a would-be ace with so much wanted and expected from him. And for the better part of two calendar years, he stinks, quite frankly. In the 2011 playoff chase, when the Indians are desperately trying to keep pace with the […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince None of the individual narratives seem to do justice to how fun and frustrating and ecstatic and exasperating and inherently weird this Cleveland Indians season has been. The Indians return home Thursday for the final homestand of 2013. Theyâve got a remaining schedule â four against Houston, two against […]
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By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com On Twitter: @Castrovince Yan Gomes walked by, and an Indians official said, âThere goes our starting catcher.â Indeed, the transition is complete. Gomes has started at catcher in 22 of the Indiansâ last 36 games. Publicly, Terry Francona says what youâd expect him to say, but the proof is in the pudding […]
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